Posted on 08/16/2005 5:26:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
It's inexcusable for John Doolittle (R-CA) to be raising moeny to oppose fair redistricting. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if he lost the GOP primary to RINO Auburn Councilman Mike Holmes.
You're also a McCloskey fan, I suppose.
Anti-Doolittle ads taken off freeway billboard
The Press-Tribune, August 3, 2005A controversial set of political ads aired on a freeway billboard attacking Rep. John Doolittle were taken off Thursday after the Roseville Auto Mall complained about the spots.
The ads, which began airing July 1, were paid for by Revolt of the Elders, a group of Republicans headed by Pete McCloskey, former GOP Congressman from the Bay Area and Doolittle critic. The organization paid $41,500 for a one-year contract to run the ads, which were displayed on the billboard at Interstate 80 near the Eureka exit.
(snip)
Revolt of the Elders is a 527 group, which gives it tax-exempt fundraising status; 527s have played an increasingly active role in politics in recent years because of their ability to generate large amounts of money for specified agendas. Doolittle added that most of these organizations opposing Republicans are comprised of former Democratic Party operatives.
Richard Robinson, Doolittle's chief of staff, said that the ads wouldn't have convinced Placer County voters anyway; Doolittle has held the seat since being elected in 1990 and in election years is considered a very safe incumbent. Robinson also alleged that McCloskey enlisted Auburn Vice Mayor Mike Holmes to run against Doolittle next year.
"McCloskey's a smart guy, but for some reason he thinks he's running a campaign in the Bay Area," Robinson said. "I can understand why the Auto Mall decided to take the ads down, given that they were highly political and paid for by the same guy that campaigned for John Kerry last year."
(snip)
McCloskey said Revolt of the Elders is comprised of Republicans who are dissatisfied with the current direction of the party.
"We're essentially a lot of old Republicans in our 70s and 80s," said McCloskey, who lives in Rumsey. "I think it's a very difficult thing to defeat Doolittle, in part because so few people in his district know about his voting record."
The group has also aired spots since spring targeting other prominent Congressional conservatives, including Tom Delay and Richard Pombo of Tracy.
(snip)
McCloskey, who served in Congress from 1967-1983 while representing the Bay Area, has a decorated and contentious history with the GOP. He ran on an antiwar platform in 1972 against Richard Nixon, and in 2004 supported John Kerry over George W. Bush. He is also a decorated Marine who served in Korea, winning the Navy Cross, Silver Star and two Purple Hearts as a rifle platoon leader.
You never know who is wearing a Black hat these days...
It is becoming more transparent though.
They ALL stand naked before you and what an ugly sight it can be... WHEW!!!
Talk about sounding off an alarm bell! This sickness is WHY we need to pass these reforms. The Republicrat/Democan cabal is afraid.
You've read me wrong. I' not an admirer of Pete McCloskey by a long shot. But by opposing a fair redistricting measure, Doolittle has proven himself a self-serving beaurocrat. If Holmes were to win the primary (which is unlikely), he'd be unseated in the 2008 primary by a conservative without Doolittle's flaws.
Why is it "fair"? What makes 3 specially selected retired judges less corrupt than 120 elected legislators? There are plenty of "unfair" provisions in this legislation (like using the results without voter approval in the instant election, for example).
Doolittle has proven himself a self-serving beaurocrat.
Do you know why he opposes it? (that's what I was searching for when I found the McCloskey maneuvers).
If Holmes were to win the primary (which is unlikely), he'd be unseated in the 2008 primary by a conservative without Doolittle's flaws
Other than opposing redistricting, what "flaws" are you speaking of? He appears to have a solid record from what I've seen.
You know me... I never fell for that "Emperor has clothes on" thing.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0208-03.htm
"California now has more clout in the House of Representatives than at any time in previous history," said U.S. Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Rocklin), referring to the committee chairmanships held by California Republicans.
"It would seem to me self-defeating if we set in motion forces that could result in the loss of seats in California, which in conjunction with a loss of a handful of seats elsewhere in the country could spell a return to the minority for Republicans in the House. I just don't think that's a risk worth taking."
Doolittle bristled at an argument made by proponents of new voting districts, who say that the move would bring more moderates into elective office.
"As a conservative Republican, it makes me very nervous when I hear people say that their overt objective is to remove the conservatives," Doolittle said. "I don't want to see that happen. I will fight to the death to make sure that does not happen."
https://www.fairdistricts.com/news/news_sb-12-26-04.asp
Doolittle, a close political ally of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay - who orchestrated a redistricting plan in Texas that added three Republican seats in Congress - said he is "vehemently opposed" to a similar move in California.
In Texas, he said, the situation was quite different. A majority of voters statewide were Republican and a majority of Republicans held statewide office, but Democrats held an advantage in the congressional delegation because of the way the congressional boundaries were drawn, he said.
In California, Democrats are the majority party, and the politics of the Legislature, the congressional delegation and all the state offices except governor reflect that.
"It is a huge waste of time and effort," Doolittle said. "It's a quixotic quest, or a quest with malice aforethought on the part of some who basically bring a more liberal philosophy to bear in the Republican Party, which is something I am not interested in promoting."
Doolittle and his staff, more often than not, find the true vein, or undercurrent of what's going on behind the scenes on each issue. We've grown to trust their genuine "conservative" judgement a great deal, though not totally in every instance.
Thank you for your efforts!!!
In California, Democrats are the majority party, and the politics of the Legislature, the congressional delegation and all the state offices except governor reflect that.
That's a self-serving argument that doesn't wash. If something is the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do - regardless of who happens to be in power at the moment.
Thanks Waspman--and Mrs. Wasp. :-)
I'm interested in seeing more of what he has to say. Thanks for the input on his record. I wasn't familiar with him, but if he is McCloskey's enemy, he's definitely a good guy, lol.
There's another thread started. It looks like the money will be pouring in. Get yerself some popcorn! LOL.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1465991/posts
CA: FEC allows unlimited donations to oppose redistricting initiative
I caught a glimpse of this dastardly deed earlier and meant to ring the loudest alarm bell I could find!!! If this is the same totally un-American gimick that the League of Women Vipers (Voters) was trying to get my county to adopt in our Charter, then by gum Doolittle is absolutely right to oppose this measure and I will work tirelessly to help him.
http://www.fairdistricts.com/Initiative_Text.asp
I noticed some stuff in here that I had not noticed before in the selection of the 3 "Special Masters." (That term gives me the shivers)
--The "Judicial Council" first "nominates" 24 judges.
--Perata(D), Nunez(D), McCarthy(R), and Ackerman(R) then get to select 3 of those 24 (each) as candidates for "Special Master", (reducing the pool to 12).
--BUT--they can only select candidates NOT in their own party! So, the only GOP possible nominees would have to be selected by Perata and Nunez! While the same is true on the other side of the aisle (McCarthy/Ackerman selecting Dems), I see the left as playing a much dirtier game.
And what about retired judges whose party is "Decline to State"?
Somehow I think we are going to end up with 1 Dem and 2 Decline-To-State "Special Masters".
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